What is a European Health Insurance Card?
If you are covered by health insurance in one European country but are phyiscally located in another European country then it makes sense to have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card entitles you to the same level of health cover as a local would have. If you are suddenly ill then it means you should be able to see a doctor and not be out of pocket.
How to get an EHIC from the NHS
It maybe that you are British and have started to live in Poland. If you are temporarily in Poland (or until you get your Polish health insurance sorted out) then it’s wise to get your EHIC card from the NHS. You can do that online here: www.ehic.org.uk. You just fill out the form online and they post the card to you. If you are from another EU country then refer to your national health service provider.
EKUZ – the Polish European Health Insurance Card
Note that once you become “resident” in Poland then you are no longer entitled to health cover from your former country and are supposed to give back your EHIC card. In theory once you become resident in Poland you should be paying health insurance to ZUS (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych) and are covered by the NFZ (Narodwy Fundusz Zdrowia). You then get your EHIC from the NFZ. In Polish the card is called the “Europejska Karta Ubezpieczenia Zdrowotnego” or EKUZ for short and the info (in Polish) is here: EKUZ. If you are sick when you happen to be back in your native country you show your EKUZ card.
How to apply for an EKUZ card
As I am sure you have come to expect by now, getting an EKUZ is not as simple as an online form as with the EHIC. In fact it is a real joke. This Polish article says that the NFZ make it deliberately difficult to get the card because the cost of treatment for them is much more expensive than the cost of treating people in Poland. First you have to fill out this form. Then you have to send a number of attachments to prove you are entitled to the card. Then deliver it either in person, by fax or by post to the NFZ office where you live. You can find a list of NFZ offices here. The biggest joke is that the card is only valid for 2 months and it can take you a month to successfully complete the application (if you are doing it by post and have to make ‘corrections’ as usual)
Is it worth the hassle?
In my opinion no it’s not. I have even read stories such as this one – Don’t rely on the NFZ when abroad – that the NFZ doesn’t fully cover you and you may still be out of pocket. I still have my EHIC card which I will hang on to for now, and to cover my family I will buy a regular commercial travel insurance policy.
What about E111 forms?
Note that the European Health Insurance Cards replace the old system of E111 forms which as of 2006 became obsolete.